Check out some of the best salsa brands in the biz: CHI-CHI’s®, HERDEZ® and LA VICTORIA® and while each is unique in its own way, they’re all perfect for an at-home fiesta. Let’s not forget that May is also National Salsa Month so there’s no better time to “salsabrate!”

As the No. 1 salsa brand in Mexico, HERDEZ has been a staple in Mexican kitchens for over 100 years. Whether as a classic dip for chips or a zesty meat marinade, it delivers authenticity to Cinco celebrations nationwide. If HERDEZ is the responsible older brother, then CHI-CHI’s is the fun, younger brother. With CHI-CHI’s, you don’t need an event to get your salsa on because it brings the fiesta straight to you with its newest lineup of Fiesta Style Salsas. Meanwhile, LA VICTORIA is just as authentic but with a West Coast addition of farm-fresh tomatoes from the Central Valley – think of it as the brother that went away for college and came back a little more “woke.”

Consider making one of these easy-to-prepare recipes for your weekend festivities:

● Salsa Verde Shrimp Skewers with Street Corn—These shrimp skewers marinated in HERDEZ® Salsa Verde are the perfect light and easy dish for its flavor and crunch. For the ultimate pairing, don’t forget to pair it with street corn mixed with feta cheese.

● DIY Shredded Chicken Taco Bar—There is nothing better than giving party guests the creativity to build their own tacos! This DIY shredded chicken taco bar is a perfect way to be the hostess with the mostess while still having time to enjoy the Cinco celebration.

● Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos—Treat your party-goers to these colorful shrimp tacos. Perfect for double-fisting with a beer, marg or michelada, these tacos bring the heat along with a cooling sauce to balance it out.

3. Avoid binging. The definition of binging is 5 drinks or more in less than 4-5 hours.

4. Keep your consumption of drinks as low as possible – not more than 3 drinks for a man and 2 for a woman.

5. Alcoholic beverages are similar in alcohol content. One beer is equivalent to a glass of wine or a shot of liquor.

6. Find a driver. Don’t drive after drinking. It is hard to judge your blood alcohol level and its effects on your cognitive ability and reflexes.

7. If you are a diabetic or hypertensive, suffering from a heart or liver condition, take your daily medications, and check with your doctor to avoid alcohol interactions with your medications.

8. If you are going to use Tylenol, don’t exceed more than 3 grams in one day. Be aware that a lot of headache medicines or pain killers contain acetaminophen (Tylenol), so avoid accidental overdosing.

9. Don’t mix alcohol with other recreational drugs.

10. Space your beverages to allow your body the ability to metabolize what you ingested and avoid intoxication.

Quinoaplex, a product made of hydrolyzed quinoa protein that protects hair before and after coloring/bleaching. Quinoaplex resolves the issue of thinning hair, split ends, hair breakage and damages. The reason why quinoaplex works is because h air is made up of 85% protein and as we get older, we expose hair to chemical products and gradually lose this protein. Without enough protein in your hair, you damage it even washing with regular shampoo and conditioner strips it of essential protein . B enefits for Quinoaplex:

-Hydrolyzed quinoa protein (mother of all grains) has the same structure of the protein that is in our hair, naturally. By applying the quinoa protein to the hair, we give it the protein required through the molecules of the organic, natural quinoa protein. Because of the size of the hydrolyzed protein, it enters the bulb where hair is produced, under the scalp, feeding the hair. Therefore, the hair that is produced by the body, grows stronger and reduces hair loss.

-You can carry and travel with the Quinoa Protein (the smaller 1.7oz – and for home 4oz) and spray and quickly massage throughout the day. It will not only provide volume, but also make the hair manageable without gels and sprays, which block the cuticles and increase hair loss.

-Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein comes in one bottle treatment that supplements the hair from the inside out, with the protein that the hair lacks. Throw it in your gym bag or your purse or travel with it. For more information, please contact me and visit quinoaplex.com

Spring Break is creeping around the corner and you know what that means–time to start booking a relaxing place to stay while you enjoy your vacation extravaganza! At Royalton Suites Cancún, this 4.5 out of 5 star resorts aim is to meet and go above and beyond your expectations. With their excellent customer service, you will be taken care of with the highest quality of care. The resort is a little over a month old as of today and is within walking distance from beautiful downtown Cancún. Officers are available onsite both by the beach side as well as inside the lobby. The resort offers breathtakingly stunning views, stylish architecture, and exceptional service. Inside your booked room, you can find luxurious detailing as every piece was designed to make your experience magical. Enjoy a refreshing shower with their waterfall shower head capabilities where the showering area can fit about 2-5 people–pretty spacious! Inside each suite is a beautiful architecturally-built room designed to give you the feel of extreme luxury.

For all you food lovers out there, Royalton Suites Cancún offers seven restaurants and six bars to fuel your taste buds! You can enjoy local and international delights in buffet styles or à la carte dining venues and end it off with a cocktail, or two, or maybe even grab a cup of coffee at their café. The available dining areas are: Gourmet Marché, Hunter Steakhouse, Agave, Jade, C/X Culinary Experience, SCORE Sports Bar and Lounge, Grazie Italian Trattoria, Beach Club Grill, and Coffee Lounge.

As for their international drinks, you can enjoy a glass at Martini Mix, Sands Beach Bar, Level 18, Dips Pool Bar, or at their Lobby bar. Want to experience a FULL-out luxury vacation treatment? The resort offers a Diamond Club Member package that includes the following goodies/experience:

• Preferred room locations

• Butler service

• Exclusive bar, pool and beach areas with waiter service

• Exclusive Diamond Club Lounge access

• Daily, continental breakfast service in lounge

• Upgraded room service menu

• Luxury amenities in room

• 10% discount on spa treatments and hair dresser

• Day Spa facials, massages, therapeutic pools–why not go ahead and relax that body and mind of yours?

The wow-factor does not end there. The resort offers Level 18, a rooftop area for the most magical experience yet.

It is a rooftop cabana lounge with a panoramic view of the most sought-after sight lines. This area is for adults only and also has a pool, available modern dining, and a nightclub experience. For all you party-goers, at Level 18 you can find a dance party every Thursday evening with a live DJ and amazing LED lights that flash the night away. All you do is wear your brightest whites and let it all out! For those who are more family-oriented or on family vacations, Royalton Suites has a Clubhouse Kids Club, a Hangout Teens Lounge, and offers overall sports and recreational activities that include dancing your heart away to Zumba, yoga, a gym facility, and more. So why not bring all the family right on over and enjoy this royal treatment all together?

If you are looking for more special package deals, there are some designed for birthdays, friends’ getaways, anniversaries, and even for spicing up your romance with your significant other. The birthday package deal is set at $249 package rate per room. This includes a special door/room décor at your arrival, breakfast in bed, a complimentary dinner and cake, and to top it all off a reserved beach spot with a couple’s massage. For birthdays directed at kids, there is a $99 package rate per room. This includes a special room/door décor at your arrival, a complimentary birthday cake, breakfast-served, a special meet and greet with the resort’s Kids Character and ending it all off with a family photo for the memories. More into a getaway with your friends? There is a package that offers a $299 rate per quad room, a complimentary section of wine, and unlimited hydrotherapy pool access. For anniversaries, there is a $299 rate for two, a couple’s spa treatment, breakfast in bed experience, one romantic dinner for two, and a bottle of premium wine at your convenience.

Special occasion celebrations are also available at the resort for weddings or even group events. Of course, a little help along the way in the means of transportation to get to the resort doesn’t hurt! That is what Nexus Tours is here for. Tour Nexus is your leading destination management company that arranges your tours and transportation for you so you can have a safe and efficient way of traveling to your destination. Oh, the fun part? Tour Nexus can even arranged parasailing and jet skiing for your outdoor/active lovers! Paradise snorkeling is also in the books near the beautiful islands…So, what are you waiting for? Time is ticking and Spring Break is nearly here! Book your stay now with Tour Nexus to Royalton Suites Cancún and start living life NOW.

Have you ever wanted to learn to cook in Italy, to participate in Tuscan cooking classes? And return home with recipes handed down over generations and collected by us since 2000? Each spring and fall, Coleen Kirnan and Rhonda Vilardo welcome guests from around the world to live, breath and cook as Italians do. Taking advantage of their years of business experience and knowledge, as master event planners, they create an insider’s Tuscan itinerary filled friendly, knowledgeable tour guides, translators, drivers and private cooking classes that only a local resident could access.

Indulge yourself in the Tuscan lifestyle and discover the region’s passion for food and wine in a small group of 18 people or less. The best cooks in all of Tuscany, the local women, or “nonnas,” teach their classes. They’ll share regional techniques, ingredients, and family recipes that have been passed down over the centuries. Put on your apron, gather around the old farmhouse table, get wrist-deep in pasta dough and learn Tuscan cooking from the source. You’ll learn first-hand how to make gnocchi, tagliatelli, and pici— thick strings of handmade eggless pasta made originally in Montefollonico.

Your week with Tuscan Women Cook includes six night’s accommodation at Agriturismo Belagaggio, a restored farmhouse in Montefollonico, breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, cooking classes, daily sightseeing, visits to local artisans, cheese and wine tastings. Full day sight- seeing in Siena with a private guide who has a doctorate in Sienese history. Full translation is provided at all classes. Transportation to all activities is in a Mercedes minibus with private driver.

For wine lovers, Tuscan Women Cook is situated in the heart of Brunello de Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano country, and border on the Chianti wine region. This is the center of the new Italian wine renaissance and a dream locale for your next getaway with family and friends. Wine connoisseurs plan the ultimate Bucket List trip here to sample new wines and visit the spectacular vineyards. Tuscan Women Cook hosts will provide you with exclusive introductions to renowned Tuscan vintners and opportunities to purchase their award-winning wines for their personal cellars.

With one of the most basic days of the year right around the corner – here are some festive cocktails to sip on no matter how you’re celebrating February 14th. Just because Valentine’s Day may be basic, doesn’t mean your drinks have to be!

See below for recipes from the recently released Beefeater Pink, created by Global Brand Ambassador Sumaiyah Connolly, that are not only easy to create at home but easy to fall in love with.

From cities that may be closer to home to exciting overseas destinations, these are some of the top places to visit in 2019.

Auckland, New Zealand

The vibrant capital city of New Zealand recently became one of just 31 cities that are part of the UNESCO Creative Cities network for music. This trending travel destination is home to many of the nation’s renowned artists and institutions. No matter when you visit you can expect to find fabulous live tunes and there’s likely to be a music festival or special event to enjoy too. Visitors can also look forward to the famous panoramic vistas from the iconic Sky Tower and exploring countless museums like the Auckland Art Gallery, the largest art institution in the country featuring more than 15,000 works of historic, modern and contemporary art.

Chicago, Illinois

The Windy City has been popping up on lists of top travel destinations everywhere in recent years, and for good reason. It’s one of America’s top foodie cities, with high quality dishes served at all price points from deep dish pizza to hot dogs and fine dining at the two Michelin-starred Acadia. Chicago is also home to one of the world’s greatest museums, the Art Institute of Chicago and five pro sports teams: the MLB’s White Sox and Cubs, the NFL’s Bears, the NHL’s Blackhawks and the NBA’s Chicago Bulls making it easy to catch a game just about anytime of the year. There’s so much to do in this midwestern city you might just find yourself browsing through Chicago real estate looking for your next new home.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is a place everyone should visit at least once and 2019 may be one of the best times to check this Argentinian city off your travel bucket list. Airfares are lower than ever thanks to low-cost carriers and emerging airlines, and the dollar is incredible strong against the Argentinian peso too, making that famously tasty Malbec more affordable than ever. Look forward to walking through the delightful pedestrian areas and watching tango dances in the streets as you explore the wealth of wine bars, cafes and steakhouses.

Berlin, Germany

There are two important anniversaries in Berlin that will be marked in 2019, including the 30-year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the centenary of the Bauhaus, with its festival held from January 16 to January 24. Stroll through Berlin Mitte, the historical heart of the city. and you’ll be able to check out many of its top sites like the Brandenburg Gate, the iconic symbol of Berlin that symbolizes the reunification of the West and East. If you visit in September, the weather is not only likely to be ideal, but you can attend the Lollapalooza Berlin, hosted on September 8 and 9 in 2019. It’s sure to bring plenty of big-name artists – last year’s lineup included headliners like Imagine Dragons and Liam Gallagher. It also features an open-air art gallery, street theater, wine bars and a festival for kids.

Soldier, geologist and explorer John Wesley Powell is an American legend. One-hundred-fifty years ago this year, he and a brave band of men set out from Green River, WY, with a mission to map and log the canyons, tributaries and features of the unexplored Green and Colorado rivers. History tells the amazing tale of adventure, hardship and ultimate success.

In 2019, to honor and celebrate the spirit of that epic journey, Holiday River Expeditions will re-create a portion of Powell’s trip on an 18-day, oar-powered rafting adventure from July 5 to 22. The John Wesley Powell 150th Celebration Trip will retrace Powell’s route through Lodore, Desolation, Gray, Labyrinth, Stillwater and Cataract Canyons in Utah. The 308 miles can be done as a whole, spanning the entire state of Utah, or as one or more of four stand-alone segments.

“This kind of epic, multi-week rafting adventure is rarely offered in this day and age of quick escape vacations. For this season only, it’s our honor to offer guests this voyage back in time offering a true slice of American history through stories and expert insights,“ explains Lauren Wood, Trip Director and granddaughter of company founder, the late Dee Holladay. “While this journey is lengthy, modern equipment and services guarantee it’s nowhere near as arduous and challenging as Powell’s expedition was.”

On each leg of the trip, Holiday River Expeditions has invited a renowned river historian along to help recreate what Powell encountered on his journey via captivating stories and readings.

The full July 5-22 18-day adventure is $3,850 per person (plus Land Use Fee). Included in all four legs of the trip are delicious campfire meals, snacks and beverages, all required equipment, expert guides and shuttle transportation.

4-day Gates of Lodore – Guests begin with Lodore Canyon in Dinosaur National Monument, arriving by van from Vernal, UT. The put-in is in Brown’s Park National Wildlife Refuge where almost immediately some of Powell’s more infamous rapids — Disaster Falls and Hell’s Half Mile — challenge rafters (the Powell party named most all of the rapids and features found here and downstream). Tranquil waters prevail up to the confluence of the Yampa River in Echo Park, named for its incredible acoustics and scenery. Then come the swirling, unpredictable currents Powell dubbed Whirlpool Canyon. The last day in Dinosaur National Monument carries guests into what Powell described as a place where the river stretched out shallow and as wide as the Missouri River.The per person rate for Leg 1 is $1,005 (youth, senior and group rate $885). River historian Roy Webb joins this segment. He has spent his life running the rivers of the western United States and has authored four books and many articles and book reviews, virtually all on the history of river running in Utah. He is a charter member of the Colorado Plateau River Guides Association. 5-day Desolation Canyon includes a 30-minute scenic flight from Green River, UT, to the embarkation point for Desolation Canyon at Sand Wash. Much of Desolation Canyon is a National Historic Landmark established in 1969, the centennial of the Powell expedition. It was selected because it is relatively unchanged from the time of Powell and the place where the most authentic experience can still be had today. As the cliffs’ colors shift dramatically, it is easy to see why Powell named Gray Canyon. Even more eccentric rock towers lead to sporty rapids like Wire Fence, Three Fords and Coal Creek. Mystical seeps in the rock layer bring verdant life to the canyon walls.The per person rate for Leg 2 is $1,180 (youth $980, senior, group $1,085). Dennis Willis, a noted river historian, joins this sector. For 30 years Dennis worked for the BLM’s Price Field Office as the caretaker of Desolation Canyon. He supported and nurtured scientific research in fisheries and hydrology, geology, botany and archaeology. With over 120 Desolation trips logged, it is still his magical, special place.

5-day Labyrinth Canyon brings guests through a rarely visited section of the Green River and into the upper stretches of Labyrinth Canyon that slowly rises up and closes in, moving from alien flat lands of the upper section to breathtaking red-canyon walls with exquisite side stops like Trin Alcove, 10-mile Canyon and Bowknot Bend.The per person rate for Leg 3 is $950. Joining this section is John Weisheit, an active member of the Conservation of Living Rivers and Colorado Riverkeeper of the Waterkeeper Alliance. 5-day Cataract Canyon begins with tranquility on the flat water and in the secret tiered grottoes of Stillwater Canyon. Here signs of Ancestral Puebloan peoples abound. The confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers marks the beginning of Cataract Canyon and the heart of Canyonlands National Park. After few short miles of flat water, from downstream comes an ominous thunder of Powell’s Cataracts – 30-plus rapids. With full chapters written about them, these massive wave-trains and churning holes are an epic crescendo for this extended and historic excursion.

The per person rate for Leg 4 is $1,180 (youth, senior, group $1,040).Weisheit will also provide insight and interpretation along this final leg of the journey.

About Holiday River Expeditions

Holiday River Expeditions began in 1966, when Dee Holladay and his wife Sue took the plunge to become river outfitters. Due to its respect for the lands, rivers, guests and employees, the family-owned-and-operated company has grown exponentially. Each of its guides is professionally trained in first aid and river safety, and with 50+ years of experience, the company provides guests the opportunity to explore the nation’s wild lands safely and securely. Holiday River Expeditions has a commitment to protect the environment through education and conservation, and as such, uses oar-powered and paddle rafts exclusively.